MEET

I'm Hector Medina, the manager of the apartment block.

I'm Lionel Kramer.

I'm a writer, collecting data for my new book…

How many have you published already, Lionel?

This is my first one.

I see. Just sounded like you had books published before.

Don't see anything wrong with that. This book WILL be a new one.

Lionel, why do you keep a skeleton in the closet?! Where did it come from?!

You know, Hector… This is my late wife, I loved her very much… So much, that couldn't part with her when she passed away.

I just couldn't bury her. I understand that looks crazy, but try to believe me…

Her presence comforts me…

How do I know you're not lying?

You don't. You either trust me, or report me. In any case, you'd think I'm insane.

So all I can do is pray for your mercy.

I have to think about it.

Hector… Since you know my secret now… And in case you decide to not report my… peculiarities…

Please, help me…

What do you want?

I'm not here for long. But leaving without my wife…

I need a big suitcase to transport her, and the one I had is ruined. Please, help me find one.

And I swear you'll never hear from me again.

What happened to your wife? I've never seen anyone carrying around a… skeleton before.

It's a long story.

We were inseparable… One life, one love. But once I was away, and she died, and I can't forgive myself for leaving her.

I promised her I'll never leave her again. So, that's how it is now.

I wish I could talk to her spirit and beg for forgiveness. Oh, Gabriella…

Ehm, and how did you… well… got rid of… How did you get the bones clean? Sorry for asking.

Oh, regular acid, nothing special. I couldn't soil the whiteness of my beloved one's bones with rotting flesh...

I polish the bones every day.

Hate dirt.

I know how to make it easier for you. I have that balm, it allows you to meet the deceased.

Sounds weird. Is it hallucinogenic?

I was told that'll help to pacify your conscience, to have a closure.

Sounds interesting. I'd rather be alone doing so, though. If you don't mind.

Lionel, I got you a suitcase. Hope it's big enough. And hope to never see you and your skeletons again!

Thank you, Hector, I promise you won't hear from me again… Well, hear about me - maybe.

What do you mean?

I meant my book, Hector. This way or another, but I'll be famous!

Lionel! I know everything! It's you!

What are you talking about, Hector?

You are the white-gloved murderer! It's you the newspapers are talking about!

How could I believe that foolish wife story?! You abduct women and kill them!

What should I do to you now?!

No, no! Anything but that! You don't understand! I'm not killing them, I'm releasing them! Setting them free from that horrible world of suffering!

They suffer from the dirt around and within them… I'm freeing their souls!

I can't leave them be in this world. Please, don't tell on me! I'll give you all my money!

What is your favorite genre?

I like plot twists, Hector. Sometimes, you can get one in kid books; sometimes, even in anatomy textbooks!

When the story winds around the bone, like a muscle, and the reader's thought cuts it, like a razor, and sense is pouring out of the cut throat…

What the hell are you talking about?!

Oh… Sorry, I got carried away… I should write that down…

To cut a long story short, I like different books.

Have you heard of the last crime by the white-gloved murderer?

What do they say?

Found another body. Right under the bridge. I used to cross that bridge on the bus before.

And now they find this poor woman there… Naked, destroyed. Someone's daughter, sister, mother…

Who could do that to a woman?!

Perhaps, the criminal has a goal. Maybe, he's trying to send a message to the world.

What message could that barbarism convey?

He brutally murders women, but first undresses them completely, for whatever reason, and puts white gloves on them.

The newspapers say it's his signature. Why gloves? What signature? Is he a janitor?

Why necessarily a janitor? Perhaps, he thinks he's on a great mission. Like a surgeon, removing cancer cells.

Like a director, orchestrating the symphony of other lives…

Are you trying to justify his actions?!

Not at all! Murders are so horrible. I completely agree with you.

I must go now. Got things to do.

You're into criminal stats? Why?

Since when is collecting newspaper clippings illegal?

I'm a writer, I write detective stories, so this helps me to gather material.

Medina, could you lock your cat in the basement?

I hate animals, I must leave in a clean place. Both physically and spiritually.

And those dirty animals destroy my harmony. Sometimes I want to hurt them, but forbid myself.

No way! This is the only living being I'm really attached to.

Mind you, if something happens to Order, you'll be in major trouble!

Sorry, it's just that I avoid animals all my life.

Do you have kids, Hector?

Yes, a son, he's 30.

Too bad you don't have a younger daughter. Two kid families are perfect!

Sometimes I just don't get you, Lionel.

Hector! Someone's been frisking my room! I'm sure it was you! You saw something very private. I won't put up with this!

I will report you!

Nobody has the right to touch my wife's remnants!

I…

I'm not inclined to listen to your excuses.